Steve M

For aircraft under US jurisdiction, I think this is true. AFAIK, there is no requirement that aircraft of any size or for flights of any duration be equipped with bathrooms at all, let alone functioning ones or at any particular passenger ratio. Much like whether food and beverages are served on board, it's considered a passenger service issue. And considering how few horror stories we hear about this issue, aside from some passengers being "humiliated" at being told they can use only those amenities in the cabin for which they purchased a ticket, this would not appear to be an issue that requires further regulation.

As a long-haul premium-cabin passenger, I certainly do view the decreased passenger-to-lav ratio as a valuable amenity. I remember back when I few those routes in coach, the wait for the lavs at certain times, such as 30 minutes after mealtime, could be a little while.

Mike Jacoubowsky

And yet there are a myriad of regulations for workplaces, regarding the number and type (disabled-capable). Consider that many flights' duration is in excess of a normal work day, and you have a situation that is, at the least, curious.

You value the lav availability as a significant perk of flying up front; it's really only a matter of scale between us. Maintaining *G or higher allows me to book exit rows & aisle more readily, both of which also improve access to the lavs. It all works out. Except for that once-in-a-blue-moon time when everything's gone to pieces in either ORD or DEN and if you want to get out of town, your only choice is a middle or window seat in E-. Oh, and the seatbelt sign is on most of the flight due to turbulence.

reamworks

Bravo to the FA who didn't let you pass!

I can't stand when it's like Grand Central Station with all the folks from the back going up to use the bathroom, disturb my eating, my sleep, or my work, etc. I've had coach people come up front and try to talk to me.

Regrettably, you can be assured that FAs who care about keeping people in their ticketed cabin are the exception and not the rule.

Mike Jacoubowsky

I've seen "active" enforcement of the "use the lavs in your ticketed-cabin only" rule on every recent flight I've been on. Active as in, not just announcements, but turning people back. Active as in, I felt awkward heading up front to visit my son who was flying in F when I was in C or Y, thinking I'd be mistaken as a lav-poacher.

At the same time, I would hope that, if, say, you had two lavs busted out of four in Y, an FA could feel "safe" letting people in F or C know that there might be an occasional passenger from steerage using their lav.

reamworks

People should remain in their ticketed cabin no matter what the reason. All due respect to you and your son, of course, but there's nothing worse than trying to sleep and someone's family, friends, or coworkers from the back of the plane comes up front, stands in the aisle, and starts talking.

What passes for "first class" service these days is horrendous, but some people actually need to be up there because they're too recognizable and need some privacy. Others just really need to sleep, or to get work done. Give them the peace and quiet they've tried to pay for.

goalie

From my experience here, I learned that it's up to the PiC if they want to accept the aircraft if the lavs (or any combination of lavs) are not working

Mike Jacoubowsky

I would never "visit" during a time people were sleeping, would never speak louder than a whisper (unless everyone was up & about?), and basically would just be checking up on him to see if he was OK. Yeah, he's 19, not like he can't do fine on his own, but not a bad idea to make sure he's taken his meds on time (epilepsy; no biggie, he just gets pretty severe tensing up on one side for a minute or two). One brief "visit" on the trip out, none of the way back.

I accept the fact that there are a lot of clueless people in the world, and that I am a subset of that world, but we're not all "Kettles" all of the time. A term I really don't like to use, but is appropriate in this case.

jamienbaker

Actually, in the event you did have to wait, CX crew would likely have escorted you to a J lav and moved you to the front of any queue there. I believe this is SOP.

Karter

Not as humiliating as me being seated in C, trying to use the C toilets and having the flight attendant ask where I was sitting.

iluv2fly

That happened to me once.

The F lav was occupied with a pilot and the cart was out for the changing of the guard. I got up and the FA motioned for me to use the C lav if I could. Sure, no problem.

After I got done, I went back towards F and was chased by a FA asking me what the heck I was doing.

And to the person who would yell at me if I used the middle lav on a 757 when seated in F - don't even start.

Often1

You did the right thing. Unless the guy was a crew member, it's none of his business and you don't (and shouldn't) engage him. I've had people try to tell me when to board, where to sit and which lav to use. I always ignore them and it sends exactly the message they need. Wannabe hall monitors from middle school.

Mike Jacoubowsky

I assume you'd have the exact same message for someone in F telling that to a Y passenger using the F lav?

Just to be clear, nowhere in the announcements have I ever heard them say it's OK for a passenger in F or C to use the lavs in Y. It's always been the same "For security reasons, you may use the bathrooms in your ticketed cabin only."

reamworks

I've had this happen to me more than once. I've even had them not ask where I was sitting, but admonish me to please use the restrooms in my cabin. I just stare at them, speechless, then go back to my seat and write an Angry Letter to UA Customer service. (It's good therapy!)

thumbun

Regardless of which cabin I am in, I would never tell another passenger which restroom to use. It is not my job to do so, although I would hope that the FAs would (quietly and respectfully) tell people Y passengers to go back to their own cabin.

And while I agree that is the literal announcement, I think the implication is that the airlines don't want people from Y (or C if applicable) coming up to F because it could create too much traffic around the flight deck.

I have no problem with people in F or C going back to Y to use a restroom, but don't think it is a two way street. I know that makes me a snob and elitest -- so be it.

ijgordon

Well, I was on an LX A330 from DEL to ZRH late last year. Eight seats, only five occupied, and one lavatory in F. I did have to wait a few times.